Winter weather expected to return to mountains Thursday

Thursday

Mar 6, 2014 at 8:30 AM

With spring just a mere two weeks away, winter weather is not done with the mountains of Western North Carolina just yet.

By CAITLIN BYRDTimes-News Staff Writer

With spring just mere weeks away, winter weather is not done with the mountains of Western North Carolina just yet.The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the region, from 7 p.m. Thursday until noon Friday. Initially, the area was under a winter weather advisory from 6 p.m. Thursday until noon Friday.Counties under the advisory include Henderson, Transylvania, Buncombe, Avery, Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Haywood and Jackson. The Caldwell mountains, Burke mountains, McDowell mountains, Rutherford mountains and Polk mountains are also under this warning.According to forecasters, Henderson County could see a bit of the white stuff, with less than a half-inch of snow accumulation predicted. However, as National Weather Service meteorologist Doug Outlaw put it, “Once the sun comes up tomorrow then it should go above freezing. This will be a short-lived event.”Looking at the radars Thursday morning, Outlaw said forecasts indicate a chilly rain should start falling in the Hendersonville area late this afternoon, and is expected turn into a wintry mix of snow and sleet this evening. Then, late tonight, it should change into a freezing rain. “There's going to be a thin layer of ice on top early Friday morning before it starts to melt,” Outlaw said, noting that ridgeline areas like the Green River gorge area and Edneyville and Etowah could see more treacherous conditions than other parts of the county. Henderson County Department of Transportation Maintenance Engineer Jason Willis said night crews will come in to work around 6 p.m. to make sure they are prepared for the slick weather."Any time it gets below freezing and there's a possibility of ice, it's good to be on proactive side in case of downed trees, power lines and things like that," Willis said. "With the previous weather events we've had, we want to be proactive."When it comes to snow accumulation, elevation remains key. Outlaw said the Balsam mountains and higher elevations from near Mount Pisgah to the Jackson county border could see could see snowfall of anywhere from 2 to 4 inches. “We're not expecting a big event, but it's one of those borderline events where if it got any colder and we got any more precipitation, then it could get much worse. At this point, it's just an advisory level event,” Outlaw said.The good news, Outlaw said, is that springtime weather will come to the region this weekend.“Once the sun rises Friday morning, it should quickly change over to just a liquid rain and start to taper off around the middle of the day tomorrow,” Outlaw said, noting that the high for Friday is around 48 degrees. “Just looking ahead to the weekend, wow; what a dramatic change. It's going to hit 65 degrees in Hendersonville on Saturday.”___Reach Byrd at caitlin.byrd@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7881.